Before becoming vegetarian, many people worry about whether they will be able to get the proper amount of protein in their diet without eating meat. Because it is the main source you are told about your whole life, many people, myself included, believed that meat is the only protein source available. When I became a vegetarian, I was very surprised about how many other protein options there are.

 

  1. Tofu and Soy-Based Products

  • Tofu, and other soy-based products, are a great whole source of protein. Tofu is one of the most well-known protein sources because, when cooked, it is a great replacement for meat in most meals. Tofu is made from soybeans which is where the protein really comes from. Soybeans are also used to make many different meat substitutes which are another great way to get protein.

 

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  1. Beans and Chickpeas

 

  • Black beans and chickpeas are probably two of my favourite protein sources however, thereare many different kinds of beans that are all a great source of protein. My favourite kind of beans are black beans because they can be used in so many different types of foods but my fave is Mexican food. When cooking Mexican food, you can put black beans into tacos, burritos, or quesadillas, giving you a variety of options. Chickpeas are also a great source of protein. They can be used in salads and are really great in Indian food which is how I usually use them. Indian food is a great option for vegetarians since a large majority of the dishes don’t contain meat and, instead, contain many other great protein sources like chickpeas or cauliflower.

Photo by Deryn Macey on Unsplash

 

  1. Eggs
  • Eggs are another great protein source with many diverse cooking options. Some people think that eggs are just for breakfast but, as well as getting protein from omelettes or scrambled eggs, you can also eat eggs forother meals. How about an egg-salad sandwich for lunch, or a hash or in a veggie burger for dinner?

 

 

 

Photo by Jakub Kapusnak on Unsplash

 

  1. Cheese

 

  • Cheese is another food that is a great source of protein. Cheese is great because it is so simple to use that you can eat it all the time. There are a vast number of recipes that incorporate cheese so it is very easy to include it in your diet and add some more protein to your meals. The only negative with this protein source is that some people are sensitive to lactose, or even lactose intolerant, so this would probably not be the protein source for them.

 

There are so many different ways to add protein to your diet – oatmeal, cauliflower, nuts, seeds, spinach or peanut butter. The options listed above are just a few of my favourites but there are so many more options available. My list is just a starting point.